I waited in line at Prince’s Chicken Shack for over an hour before finally placing my order. The old woman behind the counter took my money and I asked for Hot Chicken, extra spicy.

“Nah, you gonna want the medium,” she said. “You can’t handle extra spicy.” She was reading a Better Homes and Gardens from 1997 and chewing on the end of a pencil. I stood there, dumbfounded, for several seconds before finding the courage to argue.

“Extra spicy,” I said again. “Thank you.”

The old woman studied me for a few seconds, then walked into the kitchen and returned shortly with a plate of fire-red chicken. “Dead man walking!” She yelled. The restaurant erupted in laughter, like everyone knew what was about to happen.

“I think I’ll be alright,” I said, like an asshole.

I sat down at a booth, unwrapped a napkin, took my first bite of authentic Nashville Hot Chicken, and instantly realized that I’d made a terrible mistake. The old woman was right: I could not handle extra spicy.

There are no words to describe how hot Hot Chicken really is. It sits on the Scoville scale somewhere between “native Thai” and “molten lava.” I muscled my way through the meal with gritted teeth, spewing sweat and tears and breathless gasps until — finally — it was finished.

@David Pemberton Hattie B’s and others are cool but Prince’s still has the game on lock. That long ass wait is also part of the experience. Just when you’re about to die from starvation, your order is ready lol. Then, you tear into it…only to have your whole body catch fire.

Also, ordering the “hot” is everyone’s first time mistake. I made it too and regretted it lol.

I created an account just to tell you David Pemberton that I genuinely enjoyed reading your experience. I actually laughed my ass off and could hear the record scratch in my mind. If you keep writing like that I’ll keep reading.

@Steve Bramucci I think this should be a regular column, Crimes Against Food as burnsyfan66 called it, and you could have your writers from all over contribute. It seems like it would be ripe for funny content and as the amount of comments show, people love talking about food.

Funny enough, but the only surprise here is that you registered any surprise. It’s like Papa John’s putting out a Chicago style pizza, or when Budweiser put out their “ale”. You know what it’s really going to taste like! You already know!

Yeah, as a Nashvillian born and bred, I must say even Hattie B’s is an abomination in my eyes. It’s rich white transplants capitalizing on the “Nashville Hot Chicken” phenomenon and opening swank spots in locations easily accessible to other rich white transplants. When I was growing up, there were just those two places: Bolton’s, which was really better known for spicy fish, and Prince’s, the Valhalla of Hot Chicken. My father and his friends call the inevitable backlash toilet time “Prince’s Throne”. And as he always put it so charmingly, real Hot Chicken: “You gotta get from a shack, from the wrong side of the tracks, and it’s gonna burn you from the front to the back.”
I miss the days when this was still a local secret. Hell, I miss the days when Nashville was still a local secret. Y’all go ahead and enjoy your chain “hot chicken”. I redact my whole statement, there’s nothing authentic or delicious in my hometown that’s ripe for exploitation, hear? Eat up, outsiders!

@Sarah Brown to be honest, I think someone could write a book (or at least another article) about how Hot Chicken in Nashville has been the victim of gentrification, and that KFC’s “Hot Chicken” is the result of that. All valid points and, as Burt put it, well said!

I live in Nashville, I love Pepperfire hot to x-hot and remember Boo’s Hot Chicken. I have been to Bolton’s and Hattie B’s, but never had the pleasure of getting to Prince’s. All this to say that I did try KFC’s version and it didn’t taste much different than Bojangles or Popeye’s regular chicken. While its not horrible it is DEF NOT Nashville Hot Chicken.

I created this account just to tell you about Howlin Ray’s! These peeps are serving up the best authentic Nashville hot chicken that I have found anywhere in the west and from what I’ve researched, outside of Nashville! It started as a food truck in LA as a joint venture between ex-Nashville resident and chef Johnny Ray Zone and his wife Amanda. It is simply amazing and easily compares to any of the original Nashville favorites (Pepperfire is my favorite btw). I lived there for 30 yrs and loved my NHC so I can attest to the quality. Their chicken sando is absolutely divine. They are scheduled to expand their menu and go brick and mortar in Chinatown in late Feb. and I could not be more excited. Come visit and try it! And NO I dont work for them haha;)

@Nashville Hank I could have written a completely different article on why I prefer HB over Prince’s. I agree that Prince’s is better, that the chicken is hotter and the taste is amazing. But HB is so much more accessible, you know? That’s the problem with gentrification I guess, it takes the original and waters it down. Anyways, those are just some random thoughts from me.

I am pretty versed in NHC and admit that Shut The Cluck Up makes me shake, bad, like I am entering hypothermia. This being said, I have it about every two weeks. I was very impressed with the taste and spiciness of KFC’s attempt. Not super hot but enough heat to make my nose run.

Hey David. I live in Chattanooga, TN and make my way out to Nashville about once a month. I will make sure to eat some Hot Chicken and have a good Fat Bottom, Yazoo, Or Tennessee Brew works beer for you.

@renogruber Prince’s if she has the time (block off at least two hours), or Hattie B’s if she is looking to save time. AND THEN if she wants some classic BBQ, go to Martin’s. Their wings are the best in the city. As for beer, go to Yazoo and Jackalope, or just go to Hops & Craft in the Gulch. They’ll have all the local brews and the people who work there are extremely helpful.

I totally disagree! I had KFC hot chicken tonight for dinner & it is one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. The chicken was crispy yet full of flavor like a sweet hot smoky goodness like I have never tasted before. It was amazing & definitely the best thing KFC has ever offered. I definitely hope it is here to stay bc I will be craving it from here on out. I’m sure there may be some differentiation between KFC locations in their preparation as well.

Oh. And aside from Prince’s & Hattie B’s, Hot Stuff in the Antioch neighborhood- just off of I-24 is also damn good. They serve their chicken up on Colonial brand white bread and their sides aren’t bad at all.

@Noxy please please PLEASE let me know how Peach’s is. I’ve heard rumors, but only rumors. Also I’d be interested to try your home made Hot Chicken. I’ve tried frying my own chicken several times and it never turns out just right.

It’s pretty well a riff off of Hattie’s recipe, but I season literally everything- the chicken, the flour, the milk/egg mix- & with more than just salt/pepper/cayenne. I also go 1 more and triple dip the chicken. And always use Crisco (or lard if you’re feeling extra fatty) when you make the fiery pepper coating.

I will def let you know how Peach’s is, though!! I’m really excited to try it, but also scared lol

The restaurant itself is very hole-in-the-wall- there is no sign outside (that we saw) to signify the place. We actually had to go in and confirm with a fellow patron that we were in the right place. In lieu of a host stand and host/hostesses, you simply write your name on a dry erase board at the bottom of the list & how many are in your party.

Like the reviews on Yelp, it’s very small, with only a small handful of tables and a bar with seats.

Skip on to the Hot Chicken. The Extra Hot is actually dusted with a ghost pepper powder, while the hot is a cayenne (if I remember right) mix.

My fiancé and I both ordered the hot, and like the bartender suggested, it wasn’t anywhere close to being spicy. I got a side of the ghost pepper mix- which is what they use for the extra hot.

And this brings me to where Hot House screws up… Hot Chicken is made so with a coating of melted veggie shortening (i.e. Crisco) or possibly lard. I know Hattie B’s recipe that’s online says you can use veggie oil, but imo, that just doesn’t cut it.

Peaches Hot House does a dry dusting of whatever spice mix they use to make their fried chicken “Hot Chicken”- no oil/melted shortening & spices mixed brushed on as is how it’s supposed to be made. They do serve it up on white bread slices, and with pickles, but I’m gonna assume the pickles are made in-house- like quick pickles. Said pickles are also sweet, when NHC is supposed to be served with dill pickles.

SO. For anyone really needing a Hot Chicken fix, by all means go there & check it out . I’m gonna admit it and say that I’m being picky/overprotective of my beloved dish, haha.. But, Peaches could most certainly up the ante and do a better job of it. Otherwise, I do appreciate the nod. I absolutely love that NHC is finally getting the nationwide recognition it deserves, I just hope it doesn’t continue to get lost in translation as more and more places begin to serve it on their menus.

@Noxy Thanks for the review! I really want to try it myself now. It’s interesting to see restaurants take on the name of a style of food and then try and make it different. Why wouldn’t you just make it as traditional as possible? I mean, as in all Southern cooking, just use the damn Crisco! Why do people try and avoid it? Sure, don’t eat it every day, but damn, that’s what makes it so good.

David, you are absolutely out of your mind. You’re the kind of guy that eats tofu with carrots. This Hot Nashville is out of this world. I would walk across the Sahara desert while dragging my balls across broken glass just to eat it one last time. I’ve literally eaten this chicken 6 out of the last 7 days. You know you’re wrong when even Danny Hong says “it’s not bad”.

@Hot Nashville Bling two things. First: You have the best username in Uproxx comments history, congrats. Second: There’s nothing wrong with eating tofu and carrots, but I don’t eat tofu and carrots. Oh, and I guess there’s a third: KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken is garbage food.

If you think KFC hot chicken is “garbage food” then your taste buds have yet to mature. Your blog about KFC is worse than Cesar’s Bard, and that’s saying something. You’re the kind of guy squirts his ketchup all over the fries instead of putting it on the side. You sir are not a hot chicken connoisseur.

If you don’t like KFC hot Nashville chicken your taste buds have yet to mature. Your blog about this hot delicious Nashville chicken is worse than Cesar’s Vazquez’s Bard, and that’s saying something. You’re the type of guy that puts ketchup on top of your fries rather than on the side. You sir, are not a hot chicken connoisseur.

Honestly I thought it was pretty decent, very greasy though which is okay but it’s verging on too greasy.
Now here’s my question, who expects to get down-home, niche quality of food from a fast food chain? Quit complaining and enjoy it for what it is. If you want your fabulous, Nirvana-inducing hot chicken then go to Prince’s Chicken Shack. If you want average quality fast food with a surprisingly hot bite then go to KFC.

Hot Nashville Bling is clearly a shill. I tried KFC’s hot chicken and it was the worst tasting thing on their menu. All I got from it was a shitload of oil, salt, and smoked paprika. Nothing else. I’ve never tried the stuff from Nashville itself but there is no way this how such a beloved American phenomenon is suppose to taste.